![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Raingarden-Blundell-Street-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nUnited Utilities is investing \u00a330m to manage water in a more sustainable way<\/p>\n
One of the rain gardens in Blundell Street<\/p>\n
A multi-million pound plan has been unveiled in a bid to make Liverpool a more \u201cspongy\u201d city. With extreme rainfall becoming more frequent, United Utilities is investing \u00a330m to manage water in a more sustainable way by capturing rain<\/a> where it falls.<\/p>\n The programme will lead to a raft of blue-green interventions, including rain gardens<\/a>, green roofs, urban wetlands and \u201cgreener\u201d playgrounds \u2013 all designed to soak up rainwater like a sponge and reduce reliance on traditional concrete solutions such as storage tanks. The scheme will help to slow the flow<\/a> into sewers, easing pressure on the network and helping to reduce the operation of storm overflows.<\/p>\n As part of the investment, which will be delivered by 2030, the company will work alongside global leaders to bring \u201csponge city\u201d principles, already in use in cities including New York and Shanghai, to Liverpool. The plans build on an agreement struck last year with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Mersey Rivers Trust to tackle flood risk, reduce sewage discharges and improve water quality.<\/p>\n Around 85% of sewers in Merseyside are combined, meaning rainwater and wastewater flow through the same pipes. During heavy rainfall, storm overflows may be used to prevent sewage backing up into homes and streets.<\/p>\n Louise Beardmore, United Utilities chief executive, unveiled the project at the Flood and Coast Conference in Liverpool earlier this week. She said: \u201cTo tackle the challenges of climate change, we need to make our urban areas more spongy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognise the value of water as a resource and the importance of working with rainfall and runoff, rather than against it \u2013 slowing the flow, reducing flooding, and creating greener, more resilient places for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Work is already underway across the city including in Deysbrook where United Utilities has partnered with Alder Hey Children\u2019s Hospital on a \u00a3536,000 scheme to cut flooding by diverting rainwater away from the combined sewer into new surface water drains.<\/p>\n How the rain garden took shape<\/p>\n More than 700 water-saving planters have also been provided to residents, each capable of holding up to 200 litres of water and helping households reuse rainwater while reducing potential flood risk in the area.<\/p>\n The company is also working with major retailers and multi-site owners, including Liverpool ONE, to introduce rain gardens, while its Future Leaders of Water programme has helped 33% of Liverpool\u2019s flood-prone schools become spongier and greener with plans to work with another 100 schools.<\/p>\n Louise added: \u201cWith more intense rainfall, we need to manage rain where it falls. If we can do that, we can protect rivers, reduce flood risk and create places that people are proud to live in.<\/p>\n \u201cThis investment marks an important step in shaping a more resilient future for Liverpool and the wider city region.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Raingarden-Blundell-Street-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n